Indian cricketer Prithvi Shaw has described the molestation complaint filed against him by social media influencer Sapna Gill as baseless, claiming it was motivated by personal animosity and a desire for publicity. In a written response submitted to a Mumbai court on Tuesday, Shaw argued that Gill’s plea was frivolous and filed with the intention of damaging his reputation. He stated that the complaint was a retaliation to a 2023 criminal case registered against Gill following an alleged altercation involving Shaw at a suburban hotel.

Gill was arrested in February 2023 after being accused of attacking Shaw during an argument over taking selfies at a hotel. After securing bail, she approached the Andheri Airport police station with a complaint accusing Shaw, his friend Ashish Yadav and others of molestation and outraging her modesty. The police, however, declined to register a First Information Report, stating that no offence was made out. Following this, Gill moved a magistrate’s court seeking directions to the police to register an FIR. The police reiterated their stand before the court, after which the magistrate ordered a fresh inquiry under Section 202 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to assess whether sufficient grounds existed to proceed with the case. Challenging this order, Gill filed a revision petition before a sessions court in April 2024 through her lawyer, Ali Kaashif Khan. Shaw, who had not responded earlier, finally filed his reply this week, alleging that Gill was “playing the womanhood card” to settle a personal vendetta and counter the earlier FIR lodged against her. Shaw’s reply further claimed that Gill, whom he described as a struggling actor, had approached the court with the intention of gaining publicity and extorting money by falsely implicating him. Responding to Shaw’s submission, Gill’s lawyer said the reply failed to present any concrete evidence or alibi in Shaw’s defence. The matter is scheduled to be heard next on March 31.

Cameron Green & Matheesha Pathirana (Agency Image)

NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders were the biggest spenders in the IPL players’ auction on Tuesday, shelling out a record Rs 25.20 crore to sign Australian all-rounder Cameron Green and investing a further Rs 18 crore to bring in Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana.Uncapped Indian talent drew massive attention, with Uttar Pradesh’s 20-year-old left-arm spinner Prashant Veer and Rajasthan’s 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma both landing lucrative Rs 14.20 crore deals with Chennai Super Kings. Having entered the auction at a base price of Rs 30 lakh each, the pair went on to become the highest-paid uncapped players in IPL auction history.

Another major gainer was Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi Dar, who was snapped up by Delhi Capitals for Rs 8.40 crore after starting at a base price of Rs 30 lakh.India internationals Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan were initially left without buyers despite solid recent form. However, both found teams during the accelerated round, with Sarfaraz joining Chennai Super Kings for Rs 75 lakh and Shaw being picked up by Delhi Capitals for the same amount. Sarfaraz had earlier grabbed headlines by smashing a 22-ball 73 for Mumbai against Rajasthan in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on the eve of the auction.

Delhi Capitals also made a late move to sign New Zealand pacer Kyle Jamieson for Rs 2 crore.Green’s acquisition saw him overtake Mitchell Starc’s Rs 24.75 crore deal to become the most expensive overseas player in IPL auction history. His signing followed an intense bidding duel between Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings, with KKR ultimately prevailing. The franchise also entered the race for Venkatesh Iyer before stepping aside, allowing Royal Challengers Bengaluru to secure the all-rounder for Rs 7 crore.

KKR later turned their attention to Pathirana, entering the contest after Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants pulled out. Coming in at a base price of Rs 2 crore, Pathirana became the costliest Sri Lankan player ever sold at an IPL auction.

Under existing IPL rules, Green will receive Rs 18 crore for the season, with the remaining amount going towards the BCCI’s player development programme, while Pathirana will pocket his full amount as it falls within the salary cap. KKR managing director Venky Mysore expressed satisfaction with the franchise’s marquee signing. “We are very happy. Something that we were focussed on and hoping. Quite happy with price at which we got him. Would have been a concern if it had gone higher. We were keen and attached but had it affected our rest of auction, we would have let him go,” Mysore said at a press conference.

“He will add lot to our team and with our new power coach Andre Russell, we know what he does, with bat and ball, couldn’t be happier.“The rule the BCCI made on the Rs 18 crore, our standpoint is there is no concern, in any case it’s an outflow for franchise,” he added.

Green, who has previously represented Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, has featured in 29 IPL matches, scoring 707 runs and taking 16 wickets. Reacting to his move, Green said, “I’m so excited to be part of Kolkata for this year’s IPL. To get down to the Eden Gardens, to get used to the atmosphere. I hope it is a great year for us. So see you soon. Ami KKR!”

Elsewhere, Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman was bought by KKR for Rs 9.20 crore, while uncapped Madhya Pradesh fast bowler Mangesh Yadav joined Royal Challengers Bengaluru for Rs 5.20 crore after a bidding war with Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Sunrisers Hyderabad also spent big, paying Rs 13 crore for England batter Liam Livingstone, while Lucknow Super Giants secured Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis for Rs 8.60 crore. Punjab Kings made their first purchase of the day by signing Australia’s Cooper Connolly for Rs 3 crore, and Australian all-rounder Jack Edwards was picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad for the same amount.

In the accelerated round, New Zealand’s Tom Banton went to Gujarat Titans for Rs 2 crore, while Adam Milne was snapped up by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 2.40 crore. South African batter David Miller returned to Delhi Capitals for his base price of Rs 2 crore, though New Zealand opener Devon Conway remained unsold.

Quinton de Kock rejoined Mumbai Indians at his base price of Rs 1 crore. Spencer Johnson went unsold, while Anrich Nortje was signed by Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 2 crore. South African pacer Lungi Ngidi was also picked up by Delhi Capitals for his base price of Rs 2 crore.

The mini auction featured a pool of 359 players — 246 Indians and 113 overseas — with the 10 franchises competing to fill up to 77 slots, including 31 reserved for overseas players.

Cameron Green, Matheesha Pathirana & Liam Livingstone (Agency Image)

The IPL Auction 2026 wrapped up with plenty of drama, surprise twists and big-money moves. Here is the list of the most expensive signings for all 10 franchises this season.Kolkata Knight Riders stole the headlines with the biggest buy of the auction. Australian all rounder Cameron Green was snapped up for a massive Rs 25.20 crore, making him the most expensive overseas player in IPL history. The bidding crossed the previous record held by Mitchell Starc and placed Green as the third costliest player ever at an IPL auction, behind Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer. KKR made a clear statement of intent by investing heavily in the Australian star.Chennai Super Kingsfocused on young Indian talent and dominated the uncapped players’ market. CSK secured Uttar Pradesh left arm spinner Prashant Veer and Rajasthan wicketkeeper batter Kartik Sharma for Rs 14.20 crore each. Both came in with a base price of just Rs 30 lakh and ended the night as the highest paid uncapped players in IPL auction history.

Most Expensive Players — Team-Wise:

Sunrisers Hyderabad also made a bold move by signing England all rounder Liam Livingstone for Rs 13 crore. After going unsold in the opening round, Livingstone triggered a bidding war before SRH finally sealed the deal, making him their most expensive buy of the auction.Delhi Capitals turned heads by splurging Rs 8.40 crore on Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi Dar. Starting from a base price of Rs 30 lakh, Dar emerged as one of the biggest gainers of the mini auction and DC’s costliest signing.Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the defending IPL champions, made Indian all rounder Venkatesh Iyer their biggest signing by securing him for Rs 7 crore. Rajasthan Royals, meanwhile, spent Rs 7.4 crore to bring in leg spinner Ravi Bishnoi, making him their most expensive purchase at the auction.Gujarat Titans went big on experience by acquiring Jason Holder for Rs 7 crore, while Lucknow Super Giants surprised many by paying Rs 8.60 crore for Josh Inglis, despite the Australian being available for only four IPL matches this season.Punjab Kings, the IPL 2025 finalists, adopted a measured approach at the auction, with Ben Dwarshuis emerging as their most expensive purchase at Rs 4.40 crore. Mumbai Indians, who entered the auction with the smallest purse of Rs 2.75 crore, saw Quinton de Kock become their top signing at Rs 1 crore.With 359 players in the pool and only 77 slots available, the IPL Auction 2026 once again delivered high stakes, unexpected outcomes and plenty of talking points ahead of the new season.

Ravi Bishnoi (PTI Photo/Shashank Parade)

India leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi described his return to Rajasthan Royals as “like playing at home” after the inaugural champions secured him for Rs 7.2 crore at the IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The bidding for the 25-year-old turned intense before the Royals finally had the last word at the Etihad Arena. A native of Jodhpur, Bishnoi’s move to Rajasthan carries strong personal significance. The leg-spinner began his early cricketing journey as a net bowler with the Royals, and returning to the franchise now as a full-fledged IPL player marks a full-circle moment in his career. Speaking after the auction, Bishnoi said representing a team that carries the name of his home state made the opportunity even more special.

Rajasthan Royals lead owner Manoj Badale echoed those sentiments, calling Bishnoi’s signing a homecoming. He described the leg-spinner as a special talent who has long been admired by the Royals’ fanbase, praising his bowling ability, athletic fielding and competitive mindset that aligns with the franchise’s values. Bishnoi entered the auction with a base price of Rs 2 crore, with Rajasthan opening the bidding straight away. Chennai Super Kings soon joined the contest and steadily raised the stakes. After CSK pushed the bid to Rs 4.2 crore, Rajasthan briefly paused before re-entering at Rs 4.4 crore, reigniting the duel. The price climbed to Rs 5.8 crore before the Royals stepped in again at Rs 6 crore, at which point CSK backed out. Just as Rajasthan looked set to seal the deal, Sunrisers Hyderabad entered with a bid of Rs 6.2 crore, forcing another round of competitive bidding that finally ended at Rs 7.2 crore in favour of the Royals. On the field, Bishnoi brings solid recent form and valuable experience. During the 2025–26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he picked up nine wickets in seven matches while maintaining an economy rate of 8.40. In the IPL, he has represented Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants, featuring in 77 matches and claiming 72 wickets. Bishnoi was part of the LSG squad in IPL 2025. With his roots in Rajasthan and a growing reputation as a reliable leg-spinner, Bishnoi’s return is expected to add both quality and emotion to the Royals’ bowling attack in the upcoming season.

MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming (Agency Image)

Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming has explained the thinking behind the franchise’s biggest moves at the IPL 2026 auction, following the record-breaking signings of Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer. CSK stunned the auction table on Tuesday by securing uncapped wicketkeeper batter Kartik Sharma for Rs 14.2 crore. The 19-year-old became the joint most expensive uncapped Indian player in IPL history, a record he now shares with Prashant Veer, who was also picked up by CSK for the same amount. Fleming said the franchise had been tracking Kartik closely and felt the timing was right to act.

“We’ve been watching Kartik for some time. He was with us last year,” Fleming said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “We needed that skillset of Prashant after the Jadeja trade.” Prashant Veer, an all-rounder from Uttar Pradesh, attracted intense interest during the auction. Lucknow Super Giants, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad were all involved in the bidding before CSK stayed in till the end to land the youngster for Rs 14.20 crore. Fleming suggested the aggressive approach was shaped by lessons learned during the previous season. “Fair reflection, as the game evolved, we may have been slow to evolve with it,” Fleming said. “Halfway through the tournament we made a big shift. The work we did then has enabled us to continue that work now.” Elsewhere at the auction, Cameron Green made headlines after being sold to Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 25.20 crore. The Australian all-rounder became the most expensive overseas player in IPL history and the third most expensive player overall. Rajasthan Royals exited the bidding at around Rs 13 crore before CSK pushed the price beyond Rs 25 crore, only for KKR to seal the deal with the final bid. Despite the Rs 25.2 crore winning bid, Green will earn Rs 18 crore for the 2026 season, in line with IPL regulations for overseas players. Green brings an impressive record with him. He has scored 521 runs in 21 T20Is at an average of 32.56 and a strike rate of 160.30, alongside 12 wickets. In overall T20 cricket, he has 1,334 runs in 63 matches, including a century, and 28 wickets. In the IPL, he has featured for Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, scoring 707 runs in 29 matches and picking up 16 wickets, before missing last season due to injury.

Cameron Green and Prithvi Shaw (Image credit: Agencies)

NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders dominated proceedings at the IPL players’ auction on Tuesday, making two headline signings by spending Rs 25.20 crore on Australian all-rounder Cameron Green and Rs 18 crore to secure Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana. While big money flowed for overseas stars, Indian batters Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan were among the notable names to remain unsold despite strong recent performances.Green’s acquisition rewrote the record books as he went past fellow Australian Mitchell Starc’s previous mark of Rs 24.75 crore to become the most expensive overseas player in IPL auction history. The bidding for Green turned into a fierce contest between KKR and Chennai Super Kings, before Kolkata eventually outbid their rivals.

KKR were also involved in the race for India all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer but stepped aside as Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinched him for Rs 7 crore. The three-time champions then turned their attention to Pathirana, entering the contest after Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants bowed out of the bidding. Starting at a base price of Rs 2 crore, Pathirana emerged as the costliest Sri Lankan ever sold at an IPL auction.Under current auction regulations, Green will earn Rs 18 crore for the season, with the remaining amount from the bid being allocated to the BCCI’s player development programme. Pathirana, however, will receive his full Rs 18 crore as it falls within the salary cap.Green, who has previously represented Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, has featured in 29 IPL matches, scoring 707 runs and claiming 16 wickets. Shaw and Sarfaraz, meanwhile, went unsold despite impressive domestic form, with Sarfaraz fresh off a blistering 22-ball 73 for Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.Elsewhere, South African batter David Miller was picked up by Delhi Capitals for his base price of Rs 2 crore, while New Zealand opener Devon Conway went unsold. Quinton de Kock returned to Mumbai Indians for Rs 1 crore, Spencer Johnson found no takers, and South African pacer Anrich Nortje was signed by Lucknow Super Giants after entering the auction at a base price of Rs 2 crore.

IPL Auction 2026 Sold Players List

IPL Auction 2026 Unsold Players List

Abhigyan Kundu’s historic double century in the Under-19 Asia Cup has set tongues wagging across the cricketing world, especially with the IPL 2026 auction taking place today, Tuesday, December 16. However, despite his record-shattering knock, the 17-year-old will not feature when franchises go under the hammer. Kundu created history in Dubai on Tuesday after smashing an unbeaten 209 against Malaysia, becoming the first Indian to score a double hundred in Youth ODIs and only the second player overall to reach the milestone. The wicketkeeper-batter, batting at number five, struck 19 fours and seven sixes in a 125-ball innings that powered India Under-19 to a towering 408 for seven.

The timing of the innings has naturally led to questions about his IPL prospects, but Kundu’s name is absent from the IPL 2026 auction list. As a result, franchises will not be able to bid for the teenage sensation during today’s auction. India’s Under-19 presence at the auction will instead be represented by a select group of players. All-rounders Vihaan Malhotra, Kanishk Chouhan and Khilan Patel have been listed with a base price of Rs. 30 lakh, along with bowler Naman Pushpak and batter Aaron George Varghese, who also carry the same base price. Kundu’s exclusion from the auction does little to take away from the magnitude of his achievement. His double century marked only the second such instance in Youth ODI history, following South Africa’s Jorich van Schalkwyk, who scored 215 against Zimbabwe earlier this year in Harare. The tournament has already witnessed other big scores, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 95-ball 171 against the UAE standing as the ninth-highest individual score in the format. For now, Kundu’s journey remains rooted in age-group cricket, even as the IPL spotlight shines elsewhere today. But after a knock of this scale, it is clear that his moment at the auction table is not a question of if, but when.